Zeller commits to Hoosiers for 2011

WASHINGTON, Ind. — After months of speculation, the wait is finally over.

Cody Zeller, the No. 20 overall player in the 2011 class according to Rivals.com, announced Thursday that he wanted to play basketball at IU.

“Over the course of time, I just knew it was the right thing for me,” Zeller said. “It was a tough process, but I enjoyed it. It’s something you can only do once in a lifetime.”

Zeller, a 6-foot-10-inch power forward from Washington High School, chose the Hoosiers instead of Butler and North Carolina. 

He cited the IU players and coaching staff as the biggest deciding factors in his choice. Zeller also cited proximity to home, the Kelley School of Business and basketball facilities such as Cook Hall as other reasons.
 
Zeller, though, said one of the most important factors for committing to IU was the notion that he could help bring the school back to prominence.

“It’s real exciting,” Zeller said. “Obviously growing up in the state, I want (IU) to be good. I think I can help them out.” 

Zeller’s coach at Washington, Gene Miiller, said he believes his player can help return IU to the pinnacle of college basketball.

“Indiana is a great program where basketball is extremely important,” Miiller said. “Hopefully Cody will help them turn it around to be the top-notch program we expect it to be. ”

Zeller’s commitment is arguably the most important in IU coach Tom Crean’s tenure in Bloomington. 

First and foremost, Crean’s getting one of the country’s premier post players. Zeller is an exceptional defender and can score in the post and on the perimeter.   

And while Crean has brought in top recruiting classes and secured commitments from some of the nation’s best, the addition of Zeller is unlike anyone else.

Both of Zeller’s brothers — Luke and Tyler — were named Indiana Mr. Basketball and did not choose IU for college. But his older brothers were not the only highly touted in-state players to go elsewhere in recent years.

Since former coach Bob Knight was fired in 2000, many in-state products decided to go to other schools. Crean, however, has made it a priority to get the best Indiana players to commit to IU. 

Zeller was the main target.

“As I said to him this afternoon when I got the call right before his announcement, from the moment I got here, Cody Zeller has been a priority to the program,” Crean said. “When I look at Cody Zeller, I see a great teammate. I see a young man that’s got mental toughness that’s not normal. I see a young man that’s got an endurance and a will about him that is going to pay dividends at Indiana and for many, many years after that.”

Austin Etherington, a 6-foot-6-inch small forward from Hamilton Heights (Arcadia, Ind.) High School, committed to IU in August 2009.  He and Zeller play for the Indiana Elite AAU program. 

Etherington said Zeller will have an immediate impact after coming to Bloomington.
“It’ll be huge,” Etherington said. “He’ll be able to do everything he’s doing right now on the next level, and I think he will be successful at it.”

Zeller committing to IU also could pay dividends with other top players throughout the state.

Kevin “Yogi” Ferrell fits that mold perfectly. The Park Tudor (Indianapolis) High School guard — who is the No. 2 point guard in the 2012 class — plays on Indiana Elite with Etherington and Zeller, and all three are good friends.

Now that he is committed, Zeller said he plans on recruiting Ferrell to join him in
Bloomington.   

“Hopefully we can get Yogi and a couple of those guys to follow in my footsteps,” Zeller said. “Obviously, I want to play with the best players that I can.”

Zeller said he is glad the long process is over so he can concentrate on his senior year.

“There was a lot of pressure, but I tried not to pay too much attention to it,” Zeller said. “I’m glad the high school season will be starting up soon.  I can get this out of the way so I can focus on winning another state championship.”